It has now been announced that lecanemab, the first drug to slow the progression of early stage Alzheimer’s will not be available on the NHS in England because NICE states that the benefits “are too small to justify the costs.” According to the BBC, Dr Samantha Roberts, chief executive of NICE, said the body had rigorously evaluated the available evidence, including the benefit for carers, but could only recommend treatments that "offer good value to the taxpayer.”
The drug offers long-overdue hope that dementia could one day become a treatable, chronic condition, rather than a terminal disease. But the promise of new drugs mustn’t detract from the urgent need for a turbo boost of energy and investment in our struggling social care system needed by thousands of people living with dementia in the UK.
We must tackle dementia as a social issue, not just a medical one.
Even if a wonder drug is found tomorrow that addresses the organic diseases that cause dementia, symptoms are impacted by both neurological and psychosocial factors. It’s well established that social isolation is as detrimental to health as obesity and smoking, and linked to the risk of developing and worsening dementia.
That’s why to tackle dementia we need to focus on improving people’s care, not just their medical options. Because with proper support, people with dementia can not only cope for longer with the condition, but continue to have a meaningful life.
That’s why we co-founded The Filo Project ten years ago, a unique, non-profit dementia day care provider. Small groups of people with early to moderate dementia are welcomed into hosts’ homes for the day, for a relaxed, socially stimulating day where they feel amongst friends. The day isn’t prescriptive and evolves according to their interests and abilities, allowing people to flourish and improve their symptoms through ‘sociable social care’.
But the majority of people with dementia don’t have access to personalised care like ours, and their families are desperate. Dementia care is expensive, and quality and access varies hugely across the country.
We talk about the NHS being on its knees; I’d argue the social care system is in even worse straits. Yes, we need the Government to fund more dementia research so we one day may have a cure, but we urgently need them to invest right now in social care so the thousands of people with dementia can live the fulfilling life they deserve now.